Ball launcher

ABSTRACT

A ball launcher allows a user to retrieve a ball from the ground and launch the ball, with accuracy, farther than the user can throw the ball by hand. The ball launcher uses an elongate tubular member having a handle at one end and an open opposing end. An annular ring encompasses the inner surface of the tubular member proximate the open end. The annular ring has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball to be retrieved and when the ball launcher is pressed upon the ball, the ball slightly deforms allowing the ball to pass the annular ring and into the tubular member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a device that retrieves a ballfrom the ground and allows a user to propel the ball outwardly from thedevice.

[0003] 2. Background of the Prior Art

[0004] Playing fetch with man's best friend is a tried and true endeavorplayed out daily by countless dog owners. The owner throws the ball andgood old Rover runs and retrieves the ball and gives the ball back tothe owner. This simple game is fun for man and dog alike. This game isnot without drawbacks. Many dog owners lack the ability to throw theball very far, and even those who do have the ability, they want ball totravel further than they can throw in order to give the dog a solidworkout. Additionally, many times the ball will be returned covered ineither mud or slobber and the owner will not want to handle the balldirectly, or Rover will drop the ball at his master's feet requiring theowner to bend over to retrieve the ball, neither situation particularlydesirable to many dog owners.

[0005] In order to address such concerns, devices have been proposedthat assist in throwing the ball farther than can be thrown by hand.Such devices work with varying levels of efficiency yet lack aneffective method for easily retrieving the ball from the ground withouthaving to bend over to grasp the ball. Other devices have been proposedthat allow retrieval of the ball from the ground yet offer the userlimited accuracy in throwing the ball in a given direction.

[0006] Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a device that willquickly and easily retrieve a ball from the ground and will allow theuser to throw the ball, with accuracy, farther than the user can throwthe ball by hand. Such a device must be of relatively simple design andconstruction and must be relatively easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The ball launcher of the present invention addresses theaforementioned needs in the art. The ball launcher allows a user toquickly and easily retrieve a ball from the ground and also allows theuser to throw the ball, with high accuracy, farther than the user canthrow the ball by hand. The device is of relatively simple design andconstruction and is relatively easy to use.

[0008] The ball launcher of the present invention is comprised of anelongate tubular member having an outer surface, and inner surface, afirst end, and an open second end. A handle is attached to the first endof the tubular member, while an annular ring encompasses the innersurface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annularring having a second diameter. The annular ring has a diameter that isgreater than the diameter of the ball that is to be retrieved by thetubular member. The handle can threadably or otherwise removablyattached to the first end of the tubular member or can be fixedlyattached to the tubular member. A lanyard may be attached to the handle.An end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardlyextending resilient fingers, can be attached to the open second end ofthe tubular member. The end cap can be threadably or otherwise removablyattached to the open second end of the tubular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ball launcher of the presentinvention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a side sectioned view of the ball launcher.

[0012]FIG. 4 illustrates the various positions through which the balllauncher is articulated.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a side sectioned view of the ball launcher employing anend cap commencing the retrieval of a ball.

[0014]FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 5.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a side sectioned view of the ball launcher employing anend cap having the ball enter the device.

[0016]FIG. 8 is an end view of FIG. 7.

[0017] Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the ball launcherof the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, iscomprised of an elongate tubular member 12 having an outer surface 14,and inner surface 16, a first end 18, and an open second end 20. Ahandle 22, which can be multi-sectional, is attached to the first end 18of the tubular member 12. The handle 22 can threadably or otherwiseremovably attached to the first end 20 of the tubular member 12. Alanyard 24 can be attached to the handle 22.

[0019] A single annular ring 26 encompasses the inner surface 16 of thetubular member 12, proximate the second end 20. The annular ring 26 hasa diameter that is slightly greater than the diameter of the ball B thatis to be retrieved by the tubular member 12.

[0020] In order to use the ball launcher 10 of the present invention,the device 10 is positioned, such that the open second end 20 of thetubular member 12 is positioned over the ball B to be retrieved. As theball B has a diameter that is slightly greater than the diameter of theannular ring 26, the ball B slightly deforms as it passes over theannular ring 26 when the device 10 is pressed upon the ball B. Once theball B clears the annular ring 26, the annular ring 26 prevents theball, which is relatively light, from falling out of the tubular member12, and the device 10 is flipped so that the ball B can roll to thefirst end 18 of the tubular member 12. The annular ring 26 will hold allbut the heaviest of balls B within the tubular member 12. Once the ballB clears the annular ring 26, the ball B, by being resilient, returns toits original form. The user swings the handle 20 of the device 10causing the ball B to be ejected from the tubular member 12 toward theend of the swing due to the centrifugal and inertial forces exerted onthe ball B by the swinging of the device 10. These forces are more thansufficient to overcome the frictional force exerted by the annular ring26 as the ball B passes over the annular ring 26 on its way to being 10expelled. The ball B is launched at a relatively large velocity andtravels a relatively great distance. If used, the lanyard 24 helps keepthe ball launcher 10 from being launched itself, should the userinadvertently let go of the handle 22 during ball B launch.

[0021] If the ball B to be retrieved by the device 10 has a diameterthat is smaller than the diameter of the annular ring 26, an optionalend cap 28 can be employed. The end cap 28 has an outer periphery 30 anda plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers 32 and can bethreadably or otherwise removably attached to the open second end 20 ofthe tubular member 12. The end cap 28 is made from an appropriateresilient material such as rubber, neoprene, plastic, etc. In thisconfiguration, the ball launcher 10 is positioned over the ball B andpressed upon the ball B. The ball B pushes through the resilient fingers32 of the end cap 28 and is held within the tubular member 12 by thefingers 32. The resilient fingers 32 will hold all but the heaviest ofballs B within the tubular member 12. Thereafter, the ball B is launchedin the usual fashion.

[0022] While the invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim
 1. A ball launcher for launching a ball, the ball beingresilient and having a first diameter, the ball launcher comprising: anelongate tubular member having an outer surface, and inner surface, afirst end, and an open second end; and a handle attached to the firstend of the tubular member; and an annular ring encompassing the innersurface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annularring having a second diameter.
 2. The ball launcher as in claim 1wherein the handle is removably attached to the first end of the tubularmember.
 3. The ball launcher as in claim 1 wherein the handle isthreadably attached to the first end of the tubular member.
 4. The balllauncher as in claim 1 wherein the second diameter is greater than thefirst diameter.
 5. The ball launcher as in claim 1 further comprising alanyard attached to the handle.
 6. The ball launcher as in claim 1further comprising an end cap having an outer periphery and a pluralityof inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to theopen second end of the tubular member.
 7. The ball launcher as in claim6 wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end ofthe tubular member.
 8. The ball launcher as in claim 6 wherein the endcap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.9. The ball launcher as in claim 1 wherein the annular ring is a singleannular ring.
 10. A ball launcher for launching a ball, the ball beingresilient and having a first diameter, the ball launcher comprising: anelongate tubular member having an outer surface, and inner surface, afirst end, and an open second end; a handle attached to the first end ofthe tubular member; and means for retrieving the ball into the tubularmember.
 11. The ball launcher as in claim 10 wherein the means forretrieving the ball comprises an annular ring encompassing the innersurface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annularring having a second diameter.
 12. The ball launcher as in claim 11wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.
 13. Theball launcher as in claim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the ballcomprises a single annular ring encompassing the inner surface of thetubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having asecond diameter.
 14. The ball launcher as in claim 11 wherein the seconddiameter is greater than the first diameter.
 15. The ball launcher as inclaim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the ball comprises an end caphaving an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extendingresilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of thetubular member.
 16. The ball launcher as in claim 15 wherein the end capis removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member. 17.The ball launcher as in claim 15 wherein the end cap is threadablyattached to the open second end of the tubular member.
 18. The balllauncher as in claim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the ball isselected from the group consisting of an annular ring encompassing theinner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, theannular ring having a second diameter and an end cap having an outerperiphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, theend cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.
 19. Theball launcher as in claim 18 wherein the second diameter is greater thanthe first diameter.
 20. The ball launcher as in claim 18 wherein the endcap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.21. The ball launcher as in claim 18 wherein the end cap is threadablyattached to the open second end of the tubular member.
 22. The balllauncher as in claim 1 wherein the handle is removably attached to thefirst end of the tubular member.
 23. The ball launcher as in claim 10wherein the means for retrieving the ball is selected from the groupconsisting of a single annular ring encompassing the inner surface ofthe tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having asecond diameter and an end cap having an outer periphery and a pluralityof inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to theopen second end of the tubular member.
 24. The ball launcher as in claim23 wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. 25.The ball launcher as in claim 23 wherein the end cap is removablyattached to the open second end of the tubular member.
 26. The balllauncher as in claim 23 wherein the end cap is threadably attached tothe open second end of the tubular member.
 27. The ball launcher as inclaim 10 wherein the handle is threadably attached to the first end ofthe tubular member.
 28. The ball launcher as in claim 10 furthercomprising a lanyard attached to the handle.